It was Sunday. To start the day good, since yesterday we had
biked so much for exercise, I decided to go for a run. So I got up around 7ish
and went for a jog, hoping I could reach the mini soccer fields we passed on
our way to Punta Uva. The weather was perfect.
As I was getting near Playa Cocles, I asked a guy waiting at
what seemed like a local bus stop if he knew of a local Catholic Church. (I had
prayed to Jesus that if it was possible if I could receive Him in the Eucharist
during my stay in Costa Rica … it seemed unreal because on our way over to
Puerto Viejo all I saw were Evangelical churches). They guy told me that there
was a Catholic Church in Puerto Viejo, by the beach, but the priest traveled
from another city… but he also said there are many other churches, like Baptist
and many Evangelicals. His brother (I think) was a pastor and was holding a
small bible study group until they could find a place to worship. He told me
that the Catholic Church didn’t “have strength around here” and that many
people were mainly Protestants, including him. It was a good talk. He talked to
me that he saw that the Catholic Church taught sound (and true) doctrines but
that it had become more of idolatry with Mary and the saints. It was a typical
misunderstanding, so we just talked about our thoughts and scripture. He told
me that there was a “black Christ” that people went to … haha I laughed and
said that Christ can be black, yellow, white, bronze but he maintains Christ.
He didn’t like that people worshiped a black Christ because it was from the
devil. Something I really was amazed was that he talked about the absurdity of
how Mexico (in general) “worships” the Virgin of Guadalupe that they lose focus
on their savior, Jesus Christ. Up to then it hadn’t really occurred to me the
admiration (as a Catholic) of how the Virgin Mary appeared to a weak, humble
Mexican native that brought about a stronghold/powerhouse for Mary to use (in
Mexico) for her Son. And to think … many Americans (not all but a good number that I’ve
met) look down on Mexican immigrants, and even some Mexican-descendents
themselves are ashamed of their roots. So it got me thinking, how crazy and humbling it
sounds that our Lady came upon a people that are sometimes despised by others
for His glory! While I was talking to Jorge, the guy at the bus stop, the Luke
passage came to my head:
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit
rejoices in God my Savior. For he has looked with favor on His lowly servant.
From this day, all generations will call me blessed. The almighty has done
great things for me, and Holy is His name. He has mercy on those who fear Him,
in every generation. He has shown the strength of His arm. He has scattered the
proud in their conceit and has lifted up
the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things and the rich He has
sent away empty. He has come to the help of His servant Israel. He has
remembered His promise. The promise He made to our fathers, to Abraham and his
children forever.”
The talk with Jorge was great. We talked for nearly an hour
and twenty minutes. Haha I wish I could have asked for his address so I could
send him a postcard or a letter from the U.S. but God allowed me to forget. He
urged me to keep the Holy Trinity above everything else, which I agreed and I
asked for his prayers. So, it was a great Sunday morning to begin with.
After breakfast (where I finally tried my own plate of
rice&beans) the ‘angels began to cry” (it started to rain). We spent a good
time resting in our room. When we left to the bank we passed by a yellow-ish
church by the beach and it urged me to ask someone if it was the Catholic
Church that Jorge mentioned. A lady was passing by and I gently inquired what
kind of church it was, and if it was open. She said it was the Catholic Church
(I had a huge smile) and she asked a guy near what time it was open for mass. 3
or 4pm. Eeek I got excited. So after that all I could think of was how much
longer until I could see Jesus face to face in the Eucharist. I kept looking at
my watch …
Anyways, before then, Sarah and I hear a lot of noise coming
from a house near the main road. We decided to check it out – and a guy told us
to come in. A group of people were sitting in a circle with drums making
“African” music. There was a girl laying down doing the stinky leg upwards…
haha.
Soon after we returned to our hotel and got ready for Mass.
My roommates decided to come too, so we went. The church was like a
medium-sized chapel. It felt like daily mass because there were no instruments
and only our voices made up the music. It was interesting to hear the Gospel of
Mark, that no one is a prophet in his own town (Jesus couldn’t perform any
miracles except a couple because no one believed in Him since they questioned
his divinity). I wonder what God was trying to tell me. Well, looking back now
I realize how I took my Mexican friends and their love for the Virgin of
Guadalupe for granted. I’m still getting to know my own heavenly mother but the
filial love for her has opened my eyes to a true admiration for those that love
this Virgin Mother. She shared the same blood, similar facial characteristics –
maybe even His own eyes, lip shape, cheek bone structure – as my best friend,
Jesus… how could I not love her if I desired with all my heart to love Jesus?
It was a beautiful mass and I could not help but want to cry out of
thanksgiving after receiving my Savior in my mouth – still an unbelievable
miracle to me.
Anyways to make it short, I studied math (-_-) and ate a
NICE FRESH kingfish dinner with Sarah and Jen at a no-name restaurant. Finished
the day with our last banana pancake.
The talk with Jorge was great. We talked for nearly an hour
and twenty minutes. Haha I wish I could have asked for his address so I could
send him a postcard or a letter from the U.S. but God allowed me to forget. He
urged me to keep the Holy Trinity above everything else, which I agreed and I
asked for his prayers. So, it was a great Sunday morning to begin with.
One of the most beautiful beaches in the world is in Punta Uva, which is where we spent most of the afternoon. We parked our rented bikes on a palm tree and head out to find a good sun spot to set down our bags. Oh, quick comment on the weather: it's been raining since we arrived but miraculously (thank you Jesus!) today it was sunny with the sun beaming down like it really was summer time! The water was fresh and clear... and the waves were actually pretty high. Great afternoon to relax and enjoy the sun and Costa Rica's beautiful beaches.
This morning I woke up refreshed and ready to explore. Sarah had been talking about these banana pancakes since we got to Costa Rica and was eager to go back to the same restaurant. So, we started our trek south in search for the lost pancakes. Of course 5 minutes after our walk it began to rain, but we did meet someone on the way that's a student at Texas A&M (WHOOP)! Small world. After a good 20 minutes of walking south, realizing we must have passed it, and turning around, we decided to eat breakfast at a small cafe/paneria. mmm was the food gooood.
As we were walking back to the hotel on the beach, contemplation how we had 'passed by' without Sarah recognizing it, we saw a nice boutique with an interesting cafe above it. We asked a guy if he knew where Cafe Ivan was, and it turns out he was the owner/cook! He had to close the cafe because business was bad, so we asked him to make banana pancakes for us tomorrow for breakfast. It's pretty exciting ...but we have to figure out what kitchen he can use...
